Harry Potter - Another Dark Lord

Back at the arena, Gabrielle Delacour was crying in her parents' arms. She couldn't stop the gut-twisting feeling in her stomach. It wasn't supposed to happen. Where was her sister, she thought. The young girl hid in her mother's robe. With a small frown, Apolline Delacour stroke her child. Something appeared in front of the stadium. The mother held her breathe.

Dumbledore, followed by Madame Maxime, Karkaroff and Scrimgeour hurried toward the crawling newcomer. " Dead ! Dead, all of them, they are dead ! ", screamed the champion. Clothed in tattered attire of red and gold, Harry potter swung his arm and slammed the Cup of Fire on the ground. A crack scarred the cup. He would have destroyed the magical object if the headmaster didn't stop him.

" Harry ! Harry ! Tell me what happened ! ", Dumbledore grabbed the savior by the shoulders and forced him to look in his eyes. Twinkling with power, the blue iris seemed to pierce into the champion's deepest secrets. The headmaster furrowed his eyebrows. The young man's mind was too focused on his dead fellows and the dark lord to identify correctly the place where he was abducted.

" He's back, he's back ! Voldemort's back. Cedric, Fleur, Vicktor... ", Harry stopped. he lowered his gaze. At the mention of the other Hogwarts' champion, he couldn't help but see again that damaged face. There was no way it was Cedric. Harry was forced to focus. The headmaster stopped shaking the savior. " I couldn't bring their bodies back. I couldn't. He was too strong. ", the champion was crying.

" It's alright Harry. It's alright, you are home. ", the headmaster stood up with the cup in hands. His magic soothed the young wizard. With a wave of his wand, the older wizard put the savior in a deep slumber. It was better this way, Harry needed some rest. He was in no way able to help even with a potion to calm down. His body would be fine, but his mind would focus again on Cedric's face being stomped. Poor lad, thought the headmaster.

" That's not ! Albus, we need to get them back... ", Madame Maxime caught the leader of the light's shoulder. Her fingers stopped half-way. The headmistress couldn't finish her sentence when a heavy pressure made of magic blocked her body from moving. She, like Karkaroff and the surrounding spectators fell into a forced silence. The air was immobile.

Dumbledore turned around. " I know. ", the headmaster wasn't smiling. His magic and sight scanned the object. There were many spells on it. It wasn't the real cup, a copy made to activate a portkey at a specific time. To retrieve the destination from it would take some time. The faker had placed security measures to erase the coordinates and more. If young Harry didn't break the fake cup, it would have self-destroy in seven minutes. Dumbledore exhaled.

" Madame Pomfrey, please, take care of Harry. ", the headmaster waved his wand. The cup floated up and the air returned to its normal state. Focusing on the object, he made the cup rotated on itself. Chanting combinations of ancient spells, the old wizard revealed a hundred of symbols on all the cup's metallic surface. He sighed. It was worse than what he expected. From glowing lines, the cup's internal structure was reconstructed in the air next to the original.

Since the headmaster was busy with his own, some students glanced at each other before coming closer. The state in which was the returned champion brought more questions than answers. What happened to him, where were the others, was it the truth, did he lied, how could he survive, and similar queries flooded the school nurse as she hurried to reach the Hospital Wing. More and more students started to push through the crowd. They wanted to get closer, to see the savior, to get the truth.

Madam Pomfrey almost screamed to get some space when a dozen of ministry security agents intervened. They formed a protective ring around the nurse. Pushing away the crowd, they even cast stinging hex to the foolish students. They had orders to escort the champion to the resting place and keep an eye on him the whole time. He couldn't get abducted a second time. Not when the Minister for Magic himself was present.

Stepping on the podium, the Minister for Magic, Scrimgeour waved his wand to get the full crowd attention. A large light-explosion detonated above the minister. Scanning the bemused wizards and witches before him, Scrimgeour waited for his security agents to put some place in-between the podium and the crowd as well as to get the reporters closer before starting his speech.

" These are dark times, there is no denying. When a man can abduct our children before our own eyes, there is no greater shame. Perhaps, this threat may not be the greatest our country met, but it hurt the most... ", the minister frown. There was a group of five agents coming from the castle. Cleaving the crowd, the group hurried to reach the podium. The one in the lead stepped forward and whispered in the minister's ears.

" But I say this to our citizenry: we, ever your servants, will continue to defend your liberty and repel the forces that seek to take it from you ! Your Ministry… remains… strong. The investigation is progressing with the new elements found in the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's personal quarter. We must be patient. Rushing won't do any good. We, are advancing to the best of our abilities. This is just, a question of minutes before the great Dumbledore can decipher the place where the other champions were taken. ", the minister descended from the podium.

Ordering the ministry security agents to filter the crowd and let in only one reporter at the same time, Scrimgeour started the interview with his experience during the Third Task. He avoided giving details about the investigation saying it could be heard by any kidnapper's acolytes. Rita tried to use her special quill, but the minister thought otherwise. With a stern look, he reminded her who was her employer.

After the many reporters interviewed the minister, Scrimgeour met the Madame Maxime to small talk. She had no idea where they were. He expected so. Turning to his left, the minister repeated the same with Karkaroff, but was less friendly. He knew of the other dark past. Who would trust that man after all. The gathering augmented with the arrival of foreign wizards and witch from high standing. The Delacour family tried to get more information like the Diggory father, but the minister stayed firm.

Metal and glass shattered. The cup touched the ground. " Gather your men Minister, we have to hurry. ", Dumbledore extended his arm.

HP - Another Dark Lord

Space twisted. The second the spacial crack stabilized, a body touched the ground. Scanning the surrounding trees, the newcomer gritted his teeth. The magical traces left in this forest fluctuated toward three different destinations. No sound was emitted. He had left the area. Hundreds kilometers away, on the coast near Aberdeen city in northeast Scotland, the wizard stood in front of the sea. Like the other positions, that trail was a fake one.

" Why ? Why now ? ", covered in mud and dust, Mikhael fell on his knees.

" Don't make such a face Misha. That doesn't suit you. ", red-colored hair revealed a pale face under the salted-breeze. Taking a step forward, the girl grabbed the wizard's head. Her touch was cold. " You know why I'm there. You miss her. I'll miss you. ", the lilac scent filled the orphan's nose. Her gaze met his. She smiled, but didn't brighten.

" Please, don't... I... ", Mikhael clutched his fingers around the girl's hands. Despite the cold, he didn't let go. He couldn't, not this time. There were words he wanted to speak, but something blocked his throat. Fear, remorse, pain crunched his neck. His mouth opened. No sound exited. He wasn't sure what to say. So much and yet, nothing his tongue could articulate.

" No magic can bring back the dead. ", the girl shook her head. Lowering herself, she put both their hands on the ground. Pulses of magic penetrated the ground. Her lips breathed white mist. " Inferi, zombie, skeletons, undead, none of them are truly alive. ", the earth trembled. A pale hand pierced through the surface. Clanging its way up, the white articulation enlarged the hole it made. A skull missing a chunk of its eye-socket covered with black and brown earth fixed the duo with dancing blue flames.

" You know its wrong. ", disengaging her hand, the redhead put her index on the skull. With five brush swipes, she designed a red pentagram. The skull burst in red flames. The fire burned the mud, the stones, the bones. The ashes fell in the earth. " My last advice Misha, be careful, the next time we met... ", tilting her head, the ground closed up, as if nothing happened.

The girl leaned forward. Between her arms, she held tight the orphan. " It hurt. ", she strengthened her grasp. Her fingers c.a.r.e.s.sed the black hair. " Any farewell does. ", her smile never left her face even if her cheeks fought to not turn downward. " You've become a wonderful person you know ? Look at you. Be proud of your achievements. Accept your choices. Let me go. ", she pursed up Mikhael's lips.

" Please Misha, even if it hurts. Say it. Who, I, am ? ", the girl of sapphire iris retreated a bit to face the orphan.

Mikhael couldn't meet her gaze. He couldn't. His hands tightened. He swallowed. Blood drops touched the ground. Ignoring everything, as long as he forced himself, he could gain some time. The more he had, the longer she... He clenched his teeth. One by one, excuses after excuses, he wasn't able to fool himself, not when n.a.k.e.d feet bordered his vision. " Remember me for centuries. ", the girl traced invisible lines on the orphan's cheek. Her forehead forced his to raise up.

Her eyes were closed. She was waiting in silence. It weighed on his c.h.e.s.t. His tongue was heavy. " Abigeal, you are my friend. My best friend, you are... I, don't want to lose you. I can't. Please, don't leave me. Don't make me. Please... ", his arms enveloped the girl. His vision was blurred. She didn't reject him. Cold breath soothed his neck. His heartbeat slowed down. She was still here.

" I know Misha, I know. You have to. I've lost my... ", the girl paused. She tightened the embrace. Her face watered the orphan shoulder. " This year was a fabulous one Misha. You fulfilled my dream. You lived for real. You were happy. ", she sniffed once. Her body shivered. She sniffed twice. Her arms gripped stronger. She sniffed one last time. Another pearl descended from her face.

" You were there for me when no one did. Even at my lowest, you never left my side. Hidden or visible, Abigael, I won't forget you even if, you are... ", words stopped. His throat was dry. It was blocked. There was no turning back. He knew it was the end. His heart tightened. One word, he had to say. Just one, and she would be gone. Never again she would reach for him.

" Misha... ", the confident voice derailed. Abigael couldn't hide her fear anymore. She cried, but didn't allow the orphan to see her face. It would devastate him.

" Real... ", Mikhael rested his chin on the girl's shoulder. He said it. It hurt. " You've never... ", his arm pressed harder. He didn't want to lose her. " Been... ", his voice trembled. He had to respect her will. He didn't want. And yet, he continued. " Real... Abigael. ", he gulped down. He never wished for it to end this way. For years, in the back of his head, he knew that day would come. He couldn't deny it anymore.

Abigael leaned backward to see Mikhael's face. Red-eyes with dry tears on her cheek, the girl couldn't muster the smile she showed in the beginning. For a second her blood like hair twinkled. With her indexes, she forced her lips' corner to lift up. " Thanks Misha. ", her sad smile was the last thing she gave him. One moment she stood there, the next one she was gone.

His arms held emptiness. He was alone.

The orphan welcomed the rain.

HP - Another Dark Lord

Spatial distortions rumbled the air. A finger-size pebble jumped above the ground a few millimeters high. The moment the pebble touched the ground, three dozens of shapes twisted space at the same time. Appearing from thin air, the group of wizards free fell. The destination found in the fake Cup of Fire was the same, but that place underwent a three hundred meters size change.

Waving his wand before they reached the earth, Dumbledore transfigured the charred stones into a soft balloon, cast as many Slowing Charm as necessary and erected a magical shield around each wizard of the group. Reduced to a minimum, the impact caused no injuries despite the more than a hundred meters fall. As soon as the ministry security agents gained stable footing, they positioned themselves to protect the minister at the same as two detached groups of three members started patrolling the area.

Blackened earth and melted stones composed the huge crater. Dumbledore frown, only a very powerful wizard could have damaged this 'graveyard' like that. While memories of Harry showed some cruelty displays from lord Voldemort, Harry escaped after another student came in and before that place was reduced to this state. The dark lord had a new body and his magic was stronger than before, thought the headmaster.

" Scrimgeour, back there, Harry told the truth. ", the old wizard waved his wand. No tombstone nor trees or graves were repaired from the crater. The magical damage had reduced this place in this empty, charred crater. Even the magical traces left behind were faint, almost destroyed. A group of agents threw red sparkles in the sky. They found something in the crater's middle.

" Dumbledore I trust your judgment, but I can't inform the public with his return. ", the minister sped up. They were half-way to the center. " They won't believe us. We don't have enough evidence. The state of this place could have been the result of any mad experimentations, and Harry's claim alone is not enough... ", he let his voice died. The group of three agents surrounded an intact body.

HP - Another Dark Lord

Flames projected shadows of empty bottles on a king-size bed's frame. Sitting on the lone furniture, a wizard put on the ground a dry bottle as logs floated every hour into the room's fireplace. Crackling echoes reverberated. They were the same as always, and yet resonated with a different tune in the wizard's head. That room, this sound, her warmth, he stopped himself. Good memory was a curse. Another log fitted the burning area. Another bottle touched the floor, devoid of any content.

The East-side wall creaked. From the cold stones, a door frame emerged. A few seconds before the entrance was free, footsteps resonated from the other side. It was getting louder. As soon as the aperture was wide enough, a sprinting shape entered the room. The moment the invader passed through, the door disappeared. Not slowing down despite the foreign sight, the newcomer put more strength in her legs before jumping on the bed.

Catching her breath, the blond head pulled the wizard into a hug. Her leg pushed away the remaining six bottles out of the bed. She stayed like that, until her lungs returned to normal. " Found you Micky. ", Luna trembled. For hours, she searched for him. The moment the champions' disappearance reached the wizard's ears, he had concealed himself in disillusionment and she couldn't find him. The witch smiled despite the tears falling down.

The bed scrapped the ground. Mikhael buried his head in the girl's embrace. " I'm afraid. ", he found comfort in her small arms. She wasn't invisible, far from it, and yet, her warmth was the most effective shield for the orphan. Memories with another witch squeezed his heart, but Luna's kindness mended that organ. His arms carefully tightened their grips to not break her bones. The fireplace burped a red sparkle.

Glancing at the two dozens of firewisky laying on the stone, the blond head nibbled her lips. " Silly Micky. ", the girl shuffled the wizard's hair with her shin. Another log fed the fire. Humming her unusual song, she rested her head on the orphan's skull. " I won't go anywhere, I'm here. ", Luna closed her eyes. She was tired of running. Her breathe slowed down.

HP - Another Dark Lord

The Minister for Magic was nowhere to be seen in the Great Hall. He and the majority of his security agents returned to the ministry after the Third Task investigation. Ten wizards in black suits guarded the main entrance, the door behind the professors' table and two of them patrolled among the four great tables. The students entering for breakfast noticed the absence of color decorating the Great Hall, all banners were black.

When the whole student body was present in the room, the headmaster hit his cup with his wand. Four portraits appeared on the wall behind him. " Yesterday, we acknowledge a really terrible loss. ", the old wizard lifted his hand, three from the four portraits floated above the headmaster. " Cedric Diggory was as you all know, exceptionally hard working, intricately fair minded. And most importantly a fierce, fierce friend. It pains me even more to tell you all that his, and Viktor Krum's bodies were irretrievable. The only light in this dark event is the intact body of Fleur Delacour, the Tri-Wizard champion and winner. ", Dumbledore gazed at the student crowd. His sight stopped when it fell on the last champion.

The floating portraits returned to the wall behind the headmaster. " I think therefore you have the right to know exactly how they died. You see, Cedric, Viktor and Fleur were murdered by Lord Voldemort. The ministry of magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so I think would be an insult to their memories. ", Dumbledore didn't react when the ministry security agents almost threw spells on him. They had enough self-control to not attack the headmaster in front of all the students. Instead, two of them sprinted to the closest exit. They had to report as fast as possible.

" Now the pain we all feel at those dreadful losses reminds me, reminds us that while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one. In light of recent events, the bonds of friendship we made this year will be more important than ever. Remember that and they will not have died in vain, you remember that. And we'll celebrate two boys and a girl who were kind, and honest, and brave, and true right to the very end. ", the headmaster returned to his seat. This last day was exhausting.

Among the green robe, Mikhael stayed silent. He wasn't the only one. Goyle an Crabbe, like usual didn't speak, but this time their faces bore worries. They barely paid any attention to whatever Draco said. Theodore put his hand on Mikhael's shoulder for a moment. They didn't exchange any eye contact, they just eat fried eggs and slices of bacon. A small bird made of paper flew on the orphan plate at the end of the breakfast.

HP - Another Dark Lord

Made of steel and carved with modified Saxon runes, a swallowed basin filled with a silvery substance that appeared seemly like a liquid gas, topped a table-stone from the headmaster's private cupboard. The old wizard removed his face from the basin, his visitor was climbing the stair. With a pained expression, the headmaster cleaned his office. When all was in order, the green robe entered the room.

" Tragic year, isn't it ? ", Dumbledore offered a seat to the newcomer. Cups of tea and cakes were displayed on the desk, but none were taken. Taking a deep breath, the headmaster put his hands on the wooden surface. " I know your pain Mikhael, believe me. ", the old wizard pushed away the food. " Years ago, I've lost my younger sister, Ariana. She was so kind... Please, excuse that old man's rambling. ", Dumbledore shook his head. Debris of glasses and metal flew from the shelf behind the headmaster. " I need to know what occurred in the graveyard. ", tapping on the desk, the older wizard injected his magic into the junk.

" Potter told you didn't he ? ", the student put his elbows on the desk.

" Harry is young. ", The headmaster furrowed his eyebrows. The metallic parts merged with the glasses ones.

" The dark lord... ", as soon as the green robe started to use this naming, he was cut short.

" Don't fear his name Mikhael. ", Dumbledore stared at the student. " He was once, like us, a Hogwarts' student, Tom Marvolo Riddle. ", the old wizard waved his hand. The fake Cup of Fire was restored.

" He was enraged when Potter escaped. ", not displaying any expression, Mikhael fixated the repaired object. " A fire destroyed the surrounding. ", the green robe gritted his teeth. Flames engulfed the cup. " I protected Fleur's body. ", the orphan lowered his head. The cup melt down. " I was injured. I apparated away. I don't know how much time passed. ", keeping his sight on the desk, the student controlled his face to not cry. " Healing was complicated. ", his grip tightened. A puddle of metal and sand diminished with a dying fire.

" Surviving an encounter of this sort, I'm pleased to not bury another student. ", the headmaster banished the newly formed ashes.

" Do you doubt my words ? ", Mikhael lifted his head. Red marks surrounded his eyes.

" Dark and difficult times lie ahead my friend... we have to prepare. ", Dumbledore stood up. He opened the office's windows and let the wind refreshed the room. His gaze remained on the outside. Giant winged-horses pulled the French's carriage into the sky while the Bulgarians' ship went underwater.

" Is that all, Albus ? ", the student arose.

HP - Another Dark Lord

For the third consecutive year, the Hogwarts Express brought back to London, wizards and witches longing for their homes in order to forget the danger of the passing year. Before they separated, Luna gifted Mikhael a pile of 'The Quibbler magazine', for summer read she said. giving one last hug, the girl then ran to her father waiting on the platform. As the green robe put the magazines in his suitcase, his arm extended half-way before falling back.

The crowd of parents greeting their children cut his path. With one last glance, Mikhael grabbed his suitcase before concealing his body with disillusionment and twisting space. Back to a dirty alley, the wizard kept his invisibility as he strolled the London streets with deployed wings. Avoiding cars and passerby alike, he reached the Leaky Cauldron in less than a minute. The barman didn't notice him. Tom served a table when the invisible wizard opened the way to the magical alleys.

Covering his face and body with illusions and charms, Mikhael canceled his invisibility before he resupplied in the Apothecary. The old lady grimaced the moment he entered, her eyes stayed on his presence as he filled a basket with dry and fresh herbs, Bezoar, dragon's organs, dried toad head, leeches and roots of red, blue and brown taint. More than a hundred of Galleon was spent, but the shopkeeper wasn't reassured. She put the closed signboard on the moment he left.

Not bothering with the other stores, the wizard put his hood on and entered the Knockturn Alley. As Mikhael passed by, he noted how empty the antique shop Borgin and Burkes, was. Two ministry security agents guarded the shop entrance, but no clients were inside. With gray hair and a long beard, the student saluted the two agents. Their eyes dimmed a bit before they straightened their back as he entered the building.

Among the withered hands on cushions, blood-stained packs of cards and staring glass eyes, one of the owner shook hands with a ministry security agent. The patrol's leader, thought the new customer. Recalling the Great Fire after the disastrous incident at New York City, Mikhael focused on the objects near the back. Masks of inhuman figures with fangs and horns stared down from the walls while assortments of human bones laid upon the counter.

The shopkeeper nodded one last time after the agent leader exited the shop with a small package in hands. Mister Borgin didn't have the time to check on his new client when the later put a dozen of black candles, a black horn and a broken statue of a n.a.k.e.d woman on the counter. The statue was a last moment addition, if he didn't reach the shop back-end he wouldn't have noticed the faint aura coming from the inside.

Under the client's watch, mister Borgin weighed each of the candles with a silver balance and bronze weights. Two of them lifted the balance under the 464 grams. They were put away. The owner glanced at the black horn and went to the store back storage. A minute after, he came back with two black candles and a flask with a golden liquid. With precision, the shop owner dropped one bead of gold on the horn. The liquid didn't touch the black horn, it avoided it.

Mister Borgin gulped down. " I don't often pry in my clients' business, but dear customer, please be wary with your... occupations. Those, I hope are not to be used as I fear you will... ", the shopkeeper grabbed a bag full of Galleons. The customer retrieved all his purchases and tips one more golden currency. " Losing a customer is always a great loss. ", the owner put the money in his pocket before nodding. Mister Borgin lowered his arm, caught a lantern and lit it.

Not returning to the main entrance, the customer followed the shop owner deep into the building. The pale light didn't attract any attention from the new guards standing before the shop main door. Lifting a trapdoor, both descended into the underground. Wooden boxes piled up to the roof letting only a person-size passage through the place. As they passed next to a white blanket, a shriek made the tissue moved a bit.

The shop owner didn't react. He only hurried the customer to follow him. They were near the exit. Increasing the pace, the duo reached a dead end. The stone wall was empty of any aperture. Lifting the lantern to see the top, Mister Borgin traced with the light a circle around a stone with a triangle form. When the circle reached completion, the wall vibrated. The stones restructured themselves. An arch was formed.

The shopkeeper didn't look back. He retreated as fast as possible, not wishing to be seen anymore. A bit perplex, Mikhael walked to the other side. An empty alley with gutted trash-bins laying on the concrete greeted the wizard. One step behind, the door reformed a bricks wall. Despite the new place, the student hurried toward the main street. He was still in London, just a different area from the last time he used this back-door.

HP - Another Dark Lord

Near the Seven Oaks Provisional Home For Orphans, the forest offered a place of rest to any soul entering its territory. Sound of metal hitting stones and mud reverberated between the trees. No orphans dared to enter that place when he was back. They heard things about him, what he did deep into the wood and what they believed he could have done.

The orphanage residents knew he was different. He was dangerous. Their minds were clear, but at the same time, they couldn't remove the feeling of forgetting somethings, important things. It was strange seeing him with a dozen of lambs. They felt weird, accepting this fact as if it was normal. They were delighted when he just passed here to greet the matron before moving into the forest. He glanced at them, their eyes dimmed. They smiled.

Mikhael brandished a shovel before it clawed the earth once more. The grave was ready, two meters deep, two meters long, one meter and half wide. Floating inside the earth's residence, the wizard marked the wall and ground with runes to reinforce the structure and keep it clean of any insects, worms, underground animals and plants. With a blast of fire, the green robe burned any remaining debris and living being contained inside the grave.

Returning to the clearing ground, Mikhael levitated all the earth he dug. Conjuring water and manipulating the air, he ground the soil into thin sand. Compressed and melting it all with fire, he crafted glass walls, floor, coffin and an obscure tombstone. All pieces fit in the prepared grave. Before closing the empty coffin, the orphan conjured lilac flowers. Coated with Unbreakable Charms, the violet plant filled the coffin to the brim.

The tombstone remained untouched as it rested on the ground, closing the grave. The moon reached high in the sky when Mikhael stopped starring at the newly made last residence. Stepping back, he checked on the warding stones. They were still operational, but some showed little cracks on the lower parts. They would last another year before breaking for good, he thought.

Waving his hand, five silver rings changed into the same number of armored skeletons kneeling before their master. The headless one was the first to get up. That servant followed its master's command and trace a seven meters circle on the ground. At the same time, the other servants retrieved from the wizard's suitcase the black candles and the horn. Conjuring silver knifes, Mikhael carved the earth with the geometrical lines, pentagrams, numbers and runes inside the drawn circle.

Waiting for all the ingredients to be put at the right place, the wizard summoned one of the lambs he acquired earlier in the day. Placing the horn in the circle's center, he ordered his servant to step outside of the ritual area. Gathering ambient magic to feed the many runes, the twelve candles lit up at the same time. The lamb baa and tried to escape but the ritual adept didn't let go.

Slashing the innocent creature's neck, Mikhael let its blood colored the horn. As if dissolving under the red liquid, the horn produced gray smoke before all its solid part was gone. " I call forth, the wise and willing from the other side, who responds to my thirst for knowledge and never will resist under my command. ", the wizard free the lamb. The young animal couldn't squeal as blood left its throat in its attempt to crawl away.

Shaking legs struggled to reach the first candle. Only one meter separated the lamb to its objective, but at the fourth step, its head was gripped by the smoke. Lifting the animal in the air, the gray smoke acc.u.mulated around the lamb like a cocoon. No sound was emitted, but bouncing shapes hit the smoke interior. One candle burned away. The gray mass returned to the circle's center with a clean-cut surface.

From the mirror-like side, a black-haired person of twenty years old in white clothes and wings tapped the surface. His fingers produce ripples on the smoke, but he didn't reach the wizard's side. " Greeting summoner or should I say, holder of the Key ? ", the person lowered showed bright teeth. All of them were pure white and symmetrical as well as all of his facial structures and probably the rest of his body thought the ritual adept.

Channeling more magic in the ritual circle, the wizard also summoned a book from his suitcase. Keeping a third eye on the smiling person, Mikhael turned pages after pages of his book retrieved from the New York City Hidden Library. His sight stopped at chapter sixteen where summoning rituals were studied. With a quick read, he found the note he wanted. " By passing through this gate, will you, demon, receive the pure souls of eleven innocents and serve my cause for the next hour ? ", the wizard magic was ready to blow away the black candles the moment the demon would try anything funny.

" A careful one is it ? I, by the name of ******* will honor this contract. ", the demon breathed from the other side. Shaping the smoke like a door, the contracted creature advanced with no hesitation. This time, there was no resistance like there were when he touched it with his index. " You can call me El, contractor. ", the otherworld creature offered his hand.

Conjuring a silver knife, Mikhael pierced his hand. The blood floated in the air. The wound healed itself. Red drops crystallized. The blade flew toward El's heart. " Joshua Anderson. ", the ritual adept kept his expression neutral as El caught the blade before it reached him. Still smiling, El pulled out his tongue. The blade laced the pink flesh. A single drop of gold left the tongue.

The crystallized blood gathered at one point, forming a small ruby. " El, how can I bring back the dead, not like a moving corpse or a soulless vessel but as a real being. ", the wizard grabbed the ruby when the drop of gold attached itself to its core. Magic gathered in his palm, the ruby was encased inside a small pendant. The wizard put this new necklace on as El touched the lambs heads.

" Difficult choice 'Joshua', first you need vessels and receptacles. After that , we should open the way to the land of the dead to get back the d.e.s.i.r.ed souls. The last step is easier don't you think, binding the soul to a vessel. Instead of one hour, I can help you with that whole trial contractor. ", El c.a.r.e.s.sed the head of the last lamb.

" I'll keep my soul for myself. ", the wizard closed his book.

" Ho no, don't misunderstand. I just want the key. ", the demon pointed the orphan's c.h.e.s.t.

" Why the key ? ", Mikhael gulped.

" Since I'm obligated to help you Joshua, that key permits one to open gates, not only to the land of the dead. ", El capped his fingers. All the eleven lambs fell.

" Hide whatever you wish, but I'll concede if you spare me and my descendants from your plan and its collateral damages. ", the ritual adept didn't move as ethereal lights left the animals' corpse.

" Seven generations Joshua. ", El gathered the pale lights in his palm. His hand shivered a bit from the weak warmth produced by the lights. His other hand extended, the demon's lips lifted further when the contractor grabbed his grip. Magic clung both arms for a minute. Blueish lines connected invisible dots from both contractors. The deal was accepted. Mikhael puked blood.

Not wasting a second, the wizard ignited the demon into ashes. As fire consumed the otherworld, the armored servants reduced that creature into a pulp of pink and golden liquid. A laugher reverberated. " Don't worry Joshua. You can't kill me. This is just a shell. I just remove the key from your body, we need it after all. ", the voice was coming from the smoke. Another face of perfect symmetrical trait appeared from the other side of the smoke gate.

Stepping on the puddle of flesh and gold blood, El lowered himself to catch something from the red blood covering the earth. The demon showed a golden rock. Blowing slowly on it, El revealed its true nature, an iron nail hidden in the rock. The demon shook his head. " It has been used for a long time. ", El grabbed the pale lights seized by his previous body and fed it to the key.

The rust covering the hand-size nail diminished a bit. " Grab my arm, the night will be long. ", El waited for the wizard to comply.